Member's Press Release

CHARLESTON – Following through with his vow to continue the successful momentum of the House of Delegates leadership team during the past seven years, House Speaker Tim Miley is making minimal changes to his leadership team for the remainder of this legislative term.

“My primary goal is maintaining stability and building upon the successes of the past House administration,” the Speaker said. “In making these appointments, I also took into consideration talent, ideology and geographic balance.

“I think we have a great team and look forward to continue working together to create more opportunities for economic success in West Virginia.”

The following is the leadership structure:

Majority Leader: Harry Keith White of Mingo County

Majority Whip: Mike Caputo of Marion County

Speaker Pro Tem: Randy Swartzmiller of Hancock County

Finance Chair: Brent Boggs of Braxton County

Judiciary Chair: Tim Manchin of Marion County

Education Chair: Mary Poling of Barbour County

Government Organization Chair: Jim Morgan of Cabell County

Health Chair: Don Perdue of Wayne County

Finance Vice Chair: Doug Reynolds of Cabell County

Judiciary Vice Chair: Mark Hunt of Kanawha County

Education Vice Chair: David Perry of Fayette County

Government Organization Vice Chair: Dale Stephens of Cabell County

Health Vice Chair: Barbara Fleischauer of Monongalia County

“This is virtually the same leadership team that overhauled the Ethics Act to provide greater accountability and transparency for elected officials; the same one that passed significant mine safety legislation to protect our miners while also providing the clarification and consistency for mining companies on chemical discharge limits that was sorely missing from the federal EPA,” Speaker Miley said.

“This is predominantly the same leadership team that worked with Governors Manchin and Tomblin to eliminate the food tax, helping individuals save their hard-earned money while at the same time reducing the corporate net income and business franchise taxes to help companies succeed in West Virginia.

“This leadership team that passed sweeping education reform, as well as prison reform, which will establish drug courts in all 55 counties.

“We privatized Workers Compensation, and established a business court to help businesses resolve their legal disputes in an expedited manner.”

All of that was accomplished while maintaining record budget surpluses in eight of the last 9 years, allowing the state to have a Rainy Day Fund of approximately $1 billion, Miley added.

“This leadership team that I have assembled has made great strides for the citizens and businesses of West Virginia and I have great confidence they will continue their hard work to improve the lives of all West Virginians,” he said.